Starsight Sickness

Dark is nothing. The Nothing is alive. No, no! Don't swallow me... Don't drink me into the Nothing. Oh gods! They are there! Waiting! They are fools in the Dark! They know nothing! No! What's that? You? But the stars are so far away...No... It will destroy us all! Are you...Are you from the Nothing? -Starsight victim, Day 15

Transmission & Vectors

When a Homon  witnesses a Vala  Event , they are at risk of developing starsight sickness. It's not infectious.

Causes

Witnessing a Vala Event is rare. When it occurs, patients say they experience a loss of time and a feeling of weightlessness then vertigo.

Symptoms

• Gradual Loss of vision
• Iris darkening with "metallic" like sparkles
• Loss of Time
• Reports of Visions
• Hearing Voices

Treatment

No Known Treatment

Prognosis

From the time the patient experienced the Vala Event, they will live exactly 31 days.

Prevention

As Vala Events has now known precursors, it is impossible to prevent a patient from taking preventative action against viewing an event  .

History

Loremasters  are in disagreement regarding whether or not this sickness afflicted the Akoko  people. What is known is that is has always been a risk.

Cultural Reception

Starsight sickness is terrifying to the victims as their grasp on reality fades and the visions they witness are sometimes terrifying. When spoken allowed, some of the visions seem prophetic in nature and some cultures see Starsight Sickness as a portent of an omen soon to come. Others feel that the sickness may be contagious, and sequester then patient away with only Loremasters  or Heirophants  able to speak to them.

Other still have more extreme reactions, with rituals and potions being deployed to purge the evil from the village and tribe with the victims eyes sometimes being removed as a part of the cure or ritual.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• Ranabiri
• Watamutum